Exploring Feelings: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Manage Anxiety

by Tony Attwood

Winner of a 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award! Anxiety can be debilitating for anyone, but it can be especially confusing for a child. Learning about emotions helps children recognize connections between thinking and feeling, and the physiological effects of anxiety on the body (sweating, increased heart rate, crying, etc.). This book provides a guide for caregivers along with a workbook section that allows children to identify anxiety-provoking situations, and teaches them how to perceive them differently. Helpful topics and more!

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Tony Attwood is an English psychologist who lives in Queensland, Australia and is an author of several books on Asperger's Syndrome. He received an honours degree in psychology from the University of Hull, an M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Surrey, and a Ph.D. from University College London under Uta Frith. His book, Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, provides information on diagnosis, problems of social relations, sensory issues, motor control and other typical issues which face people with Asperger's and their support networks. The book has now been translated into 20 languages. Attwood also has a clinical practice at his diagnostic and treatment clinic for children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, in Brisbane, begun in 1992.

Reviews

[Trish Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

From what I can tell, the book seems to be set up in a format that would be easy for a psychologist or other group leader to implement. The opening section provides a good overview of the goals and methods used, followed by a section with all the worksheets needed for the six sessions, and ending with a breakdown of the timeline and resources needed for the facilitator.

As Dr. Attwood explains, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) focuses on aspects of both cognitive deficiency and cognitive distortion, both of which are seen in people on the autism spectrum. To address these areas, the program starts with affective education, the goal of which is "to learn why we have emotions, their use and misuse and the identification of different levels of expression." From there, it moves on to cognitive restructuring, which "enables the child or adult to correct distorted conceptualizations and dysfunctional beliefs."

Another great strategy that is used is the introduction of an emotional toolbox, or collection of ways to fix the problems associated with negative emotions. There can be a variety of types of tools, including physical, relaxation, social, thinking, sensory, special interest, etc. Inappropriate tools are also discussed to help the participants learn to evaluate when and how a tool should be used (or not used).

I am extremely impressed by this book and could see it being used effectively with kids who have developed some skills in identifying their own emotions and who are willing to engage in group activities on this topic. At age 9, I don't think my son would be quite ready for this, but I could see him benefiting from it within a few years (or possibly from a modified version now).

[Rebeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very user friendly, laid out well!